Hey guys, I'm in Texas and I am looking to buy a semi-automatic Pistol.
I'm looking for something that I will mainly keep in my truck or nightstand and I would like to have the option to conceal carry but not super important. Unfortunately, I have a price range of around $500 dollars.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Get a Glock 19 or S&W M&P 9.Originally Posted by 817-806
Welcome to pistol-forum.
My advice would be go to a local gunshop that has a range and see if they rent guns.
Try the following 9mm pistols if available-
HK VP9sk or P30sk
Sig 24/7, P320 Compact
Glock 19, 43, 48
S&W M&P Compact and Shield
All of those are close to your budget.
Please don't leave your gun unattended in your truck or home without locking it up first.
-Seconds Count. Misses Don't-
What kind of truck do you have? If a Console Vault or similar is available for it, that would be a secure way of temporarily securing it. But I would definitely not be keeping it full time in an unattended vehicle.
Ken
BBI: ...”you better not forget the safe word because shit's about to get weird”...
revchuck38: ...”mo' ammo is mo' betta' unless you're swimming or on fire.”
Good advice so far on guns. If on a budget I’d rather buy a quality used gun like a Glock, S&W or SIG than a new “budget” brand.
The S&W SD 9 is also decent and the best of the budget guns. It’s accurate and reliable and you can easily upgrade the sights and trigger aa funds become available.
Re: guns in vehicles.
As noted one of the few criticisms I have of the gun culture here in Texas is the prevalence of the “car gun” concept. By that I mean a gun left in a vehicle full time, usually concealed but unsecured. This is often an artifact of the Texas gun laws which existed prior to shall issue LTC and people being lazy because of the heat etc.
The problem is the majority of crime guns that we seize at work are stolen and the majority of those are stolen from vehicles.
There are certainly times and places where you can’t carry and in that instance a lock box under the seat or in a center console is a viable short term solution.
That is quite different from people who intentionally buy cheap guns to leave in the car full time and consider them “expendable” without acknowledging how and what that gun will be used for after it’s stolen.
If you can carry your gun on your person you should and when possible you should do so habitually. The idea that one can just carry a gun when they think they need it or are going to a “bad area” is a fallacy. It’s like saying you will put your seatbelt on when you anticipate getting into a car accident. Plus if you need a gun you usually need it “right now.” There’s no “time out” to retrieve it from a vehicle.
I have for nearly two decades carried Sig Handguns daily. I'm also a huge fan of the S&W M&P 2.0 series 9mm pistols.
All that said, with your criteria: Gen5 Glock 19. Hands down.
And don't leave your gun in your truck unless secured in some kind of safe.
From your "817-806" landline exchange, you're in FTW, I assume?
Check out the rental guns at Shootsmart (https://shootsmart.com/locations ) or Defender Outdoor (https://defenderoutdoors.com/shooting-center/ ).
Good selection of beginner classes available at both places as well.
Please.... DO NOT leave a gun in a vehicle unless it's secured in something better than the glove box. Always take it inside at night at home.
#1 source of guns for criminals is stolen out of vehicles.
Welcome aboard.
ETA: I know that at Shootsmart, you can pay one rental fee ($15, IIRC?) and try every gun they have available for rent, one at a time.... Never tried to rent at Defender.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." - Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776
I'm of the opinion that everyone should own at least one 9mm Glock, so that's a good place to start as any.
In reality, most anything you see recommended already in the thread will serve you well. Most modern guns from major mfgs. are pretty solid if they've been around a couple of years, so any hardware decision just isn't that critical.
Pick one and shoot the snot out of it. I'd be a better shooter if I put the money I spent on more guns into ammo vs. trying to find a unicorn that solved whatever software problem I had.
My scribe asked me for advice about getting a first handgun. I echoed the above advice. However, I advised him to buy used. Around here there has been a plethora of good used Glocks, M&Ps and CZs for well under $500. They are general in good shape and the manufacturers will still honor a warranty. People buy used cars all the time; why not guns? He felt more comfortable the quality assurance and definitely the lower price (since I only pay him migrant wages).
First, let me echo everyone else and say: please don’t leave unsecured guns in vehicles. Those guns get stolen regularly and then used to commit violent crimes like robbery and murder. Imagine later finding out that the gun used in the murder of someone you know was the gun stolen out of your truck six weeks before.
Regarding what gun to buy: see if you can find a good deal on a used 9mm Glock or S&W M&P. I’m a big fan of the Glock 19 and M&P 2.0 Compact size. Do you know if you qualify for any of the pro deals/“blue label” pricing? If you’re a veteran, first responder, etc, you can buy a new Glock for under $500.
My posts only represent my personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of any employer, past or present. Obvious spelling errors are likely the result of an iPhone keyboard.
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